Page 33 - Voices March 2017

Get Back On. . .

by Ron Edgemon, DTM

This article was first published in the March 2017 Capital News. It is
reprinted with permisson of the author.

Having grown up on a cattle ranch, I learned me stick to my story of
some lessons that have stuck with me my entire being bucked off and
life. When I was a young cowboy, around the didn’t press the issue that
age of 4 or 5, we had two large Palomino (light I was really just shook
yellow colored) horses and they were the off) that we need to get up, dust ourselves
most gentle giants a person could ask off, and get back on the horse. He said if
for. I would walk around them and they we don’t, then we learn to run from hard
never stepped on me or knocked me times and that we won’t face our fears,
over. They were the perfect babysitters, which is no way to live life. (Ironically,
or young cowboy sitters. I recently found my Dad living those
One day my older brother and I words with his health situation as he
decided to check the cows and to ride faced his fears). The next day, I was
the horses, Gold Digger and Gold Dust, to back on Gold Dust, with the help of
where the cows were. They were so gentle my Dad.
and well broke that we hopped on their backs This lesson is one I use to this
(well, my brother had to lift me up) and we rode day. In fact, just this last week
them bareback with only a lead rope, hooked to I found myself frustrated and
their halters, to use as bridles. When we got to snapped at another person in our club.
the first gate, my brother got off Gold Digger to Afterwards, I knew I had blown it. It
open the gate and I rode through on Gold Dust really bothered me too. I hadn’t exhibited very
and led Gold Digger through for my brother. good leadership skills. In fact, I had set a really
Once the gate was closed, we were off again, until poor example of how a leader should behave. As
getting to the next gate. our club President, my goal is to help new leaders
When we reached the third gate, we were develop skills and to build them up. This is where
about to cross our bridge over a creek separating my get back on the horse lesson paid off. Rather
the fields. Just then, Gold Dust shivered and shook than just letting the situation go and not facing
his entire body. To me it felt like a 9.0 earthquake the situation, the next time I saw this person, I
had just taken place, and it hurt when I fell off shared my frustration but then apologized. I also
right onto my head. My little straw cowboy hat shared how I wished I’d have handled the situa-
did not do anything to protect my noggin either. tion and will do things differently in the future.
I was so scared for Gold Dust had never hurt me I say all that to ask you the following. Have
before, and there I was shocked and fearful, not you ever found yourself in a situation where
to mention my head hurt. My brother tried to you essentially were knocked off track and did
get me back on Gold Dust and I was not having something you weren’t proud of or where you
any part of it. As fast as my little legs would carry blew it? I think we all have. Rather than ignoring
me, I ran back to the sanctuary of our house it, I encourage you to get back up, dust yourself
where Mom could comfort me with chocolate off, and get back on. If your actions towards
chip cookies and a hug. another were inappropriate, then make efforts
Later that night at the dinner table, my to change them. If you messed up, say when
adventures of being bucked off my first horse giving a speech, rather than giving up get back
(that’s how I described it) were the talk of the up and try again. This club is a great place for all
table. Dad listened to me, heard my pain, and of us to get up, dust ourselves off, and get back
then listened to my brother explain that I’d just on and improve ourselves as people. I hope you
been shook off Gold Dust. To this day, I remember will do just that.
what Dad said as if it were yesterday. Dad told Ron Edgemon joined Toastmasters in 2004. He
me I needed to get back on Gold Dust. He told is currently serving as Club President of Capital
me that when a horse bucks off a person (he let Toastmasters.

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 9 MARCH, 2017 33